Kenya Power is set to connect 150,000 new customers to the national electricity grid under the Last Mile Connectivity Project (LMCP) Phase VI, funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB).
In a statement, Kenya Power said the connections will span 45 counties, excluding Nairobi and Mombasa, and will benefit both households and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
Kenya Power’s Managing Director and CEO, Joseph Siror, highlighted that the project is part of the government's ongoing efforts to boost national electrification.
According to the utility firm, the funding from AfDB will significantly contribute to achieving the goal of universal access to electricity by 2030.
This marks the third round of AfDB funding for the LMCP, following its support for Phase I and III, which collectively connected 536,077 customers.
In addition to the new connections, the project will also focus on system reinforcements and grid extensions.
These efforts will include the construction and refurbishment of 13 substations, including three new 33/11kV substations, three upgraded 33/11kV substations, and seven new 33kV switching stations.
Furthermore, 211 kilometers of 33kV distribution lines and 14 kilometers of 11kV lines will be constructed, alongside 650 kilometers of 33kV lines and 6,798 kilometers of low-voltage networks, to facilitate the last mile connections.
The project will also enhance critical social infrastructure, supporting sectors such as education, healthcare, and water and sanitation.
Kenya Power has already invited bids for consultancy services to support the technical designs, environmental and social audits, procurement, and supervision of the construction works.
Since the initiation of the LMCP in 2015, Kenya Power has connected a total of 746,867 customers to the grid.
Currently, the company is working on the fourth and fifth phases of the LMCP, which aim to connect an additional 280,000 and 11,000 customers, respectively.
The Last Mile Connectivity Project is also funded by the government, the World Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the French Development Agency (AFD), the European Union (EU), and the European Investment Bank (EIB).
